Un Lun Dun

by China Miéville

Paperback, 496 pages

English language

Published Jan. 29, 2008 by Del Rey.

ISBN:: 978-0-345-45844-5

(33 reviews)

What is Un Lun Dun?It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too--including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true …

5 editions

David Bremner reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

In the spirit of Alice in Wonderland, but cooler.

4 stars

For some reason I held off reading this for years, because it seemed too close to Gaiman's Neverwhere. But it really isn't, it's well worth reading if you like urban fantasy or books with spunky child protagonists. I particularly liked the way it turned certain fantasy tropes on their head. I can't quite decide the target age group, but it feels definitely less horror tinged than Neverwhere..

Gossamerchild reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Review of 'Un Lun Dun' on 'Storygraph'

2 stars

I so very much wanted to adore this book. It's a combination of Alice in Wonderland, Neverwhere (Mieville actually thanks Neil Gaiman in the afterword. Total nerd squeal at that!), and The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making. It's also a deliberate flipping of the script of the "chosen one" variety fantasy stories.

The Alice reference should have been my first clue, as I really didn't like that book (I know, wtf is wrong with me, right?). I also started this book 3 times, and have been in the process of reading it FOR YEARS.

What is it about this book that so desperately turned me off? The short answer is length. The story actually seemed to end once, but then it kept going. For way way too long. And perhaps the "restarting" was a deliberate stylistic choice, but it didn't work for me.

The …

Kibrika reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Review of 'Un Lun Dun' on 'Goodreads'

No rating

If you want to start them on Mieville young this is the book to do it with. A colourful urban fairy-tale.

Steen Christiansen reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Review of 'Un Lun Dun' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Fantastic young adult urban fantasy filled with puns and homonyms and magic. Mieville's storytelling is rich, evocative, and engaging.

José María (Chema) Mateos reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Review of 'Un Lun Dun' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Si me lo hubiese leído hace 16 años, con 16 años, posiblemente le habría dado las 2 estrellas que le faltan.

Strakul reviewed Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Review of 'Un Lun Dun' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Another great Mieville book! This one isn't too dark or gruesome (it's YA after all), but still has all the neat language and setting of his other works.
A more in-depth review is available here: strakul.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-un-lun-dun-by-china.html